Red Sox: Team to finish suspended game with Royals on Thursday

By Bill KochThe Providence Journal

Friday

Aug 16, 2019 at 6:53 PM

BOSTON – Off the field at least, the Red Sox have solidified their plans for Thursday’s completion of a suspended game with the Royals.

Boston and Kansas City were tied 4-4 in the top of the 10th inning on Aug. 7 when heavy rain forced a delay of nearly two hours. The Royals will return to Fenway Park on a scheduled off day between road series at Baltimore and Cleveland. The Red Sox will delay traveling to San Diego for the start of a three-city, eight-game road trip.

“Thursday is a little bit different because of that game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “The National League games come into play. We have five on the road with the pitcher hitting, so that might help us in a sense.”

Boston will honor all ticket stubs and seating assignments from that Wednesday night. New admissions are $5, with proceeds being donated to The Jimmy Fund. Boys and girls ages 18 and under will be admitted free.

The Red Sox will also offer hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, chips, cracker jacks, candy and ice cream bars at a discounted price of $1. Chicken tenders, fries, soda, water and Del’s lemonade will be offered at half-price. Gates will open at 11 a.m.

Boston’s last suspended game that didn’t resume the following day came in June 1968. That second game of a doubleheader with the Angels was stopped in a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning and resumed in August. Ken Harrelson slugged a walkoff grand slam in a 5-1 victory.

“This is a unique opportunity to open up the ballpark to kids this summer and also help raise money for our friends at the Jimmy Fund who will be concluding their annual telethon just hours before the makeup game takes place,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement.

The Red Sox are attempting to work their pitching rotation and bullpen around four scheduled off days prior to Sept. 3. Boston went bullpenning Wednesday in a 5-1 victory over the Indians, with six relievers combining on 19 outs behind Brian Johnson.

Price close to returning

David Price appears to be at the head of the class regarding Red Sox rehabbers.

The left-handed pitcher played catch prior to Friday’s game with the Orioles and has been steadily working at Fenway Park throughout the week. Price’s last start came against the Yankees on Aug. 4 and he’s attempting to return from a cortisone shot to treat a cyst in his left wrist.

“The goal is to get him on the mound this week,” Cora said. “He was here yesterday on the off day. He threw again – nothing but fastballs. No cutters, no changeups. We’ll talk with him a little bit after batting practice, see how he felt and map out the rest of the week.”

Heath Hembree (right elbow) and Steven Wright (right elbow) have yet to resume baseball activities following platelet-rich plasma shots in their throwing arms. Hembree is dealing with inflammation on the outside of his elbow and Wright consulted noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews after experiencing discomfort on the inside of his elbow.

Steve Pearce (left knee) is taking batting practice and fielding ground balls at Fort Myers, but the first baseman has yet to resume running. Pearce visited his Boston teammates Saturday, a 24-hour stay before his return south.

“Obviously we’re running out of days, especially for guys to go on rehab assignments,” Cora said.

Bogaerts nearing another milestone

Xander Bogaerts celebrated his 100th career home run Wednesday in Cleveland, and his 1,000th career hit is also quickly approaching.

The Red Sox shortstop entered Friday night 22 shy of the mark, and he could become just the third Boston player to reach that number prior to his 27th birthday. Tris Speaker and Bobby Doerr both did the honors during their respective Hall of Fame careers.

Bogaerts became just the sixth Boston shortstop to slug 100 homers with the club and the first since Nomar Garciaparra. Rico Petrocelli leads the way with 210, trailed by Garciaparra (178), Vern Stephens (122), John Valentin (121) and Joe Cronin (119).

“For some reason – I don’t know why – all the weeks before I kind of had it in my head,” Bogaerts said. “I think it’s good I got it out of the way.”

Bogaerts entered Friday riding new career highs in home runs (27), walks (60), slugging percentage (.563) and OPS (.947). The Red Sox still had 39 games to finish prior to first pitch against the Orioles.

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